Posts tagged with "is not the moment to make this change"

Key Republican blocks Trump push—opposing change in way Nebraska awards electoral votes

September 24, 2024

A Nebraska Republican state lawmaker said on Monday, September 23, that he remains opposed to switching how the state allocates its electoral votes, effectively blocking a bid by former President Donald Trump and his allies to change the system in search of an extra electoral vote this fall, reports NBC News.

Trump allies have pushed for a special legislative session intended for the Republican-controlled Legislature to change Nebraska’s system to winner-take-all instead of awarding electoral votes by congressional district.

“After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change,” state Senator Mike McDonnell wrote in a letter obtained by NBC News.

GOP state Senator Loren Lippincott, who sponsored the bill to move to winner-take-all, indicated on Monday that McDonnell’s position means a special session to move the legislation isn’t expected this fall.

In response to questions about McDonnell’s statement, Lippincott emailed a draft of his weekly op-ed in local newspapers, which reads: “Governor [Jim] Pillen did not want to call a special session unless he had assurances from 33 senators they would vote yes on the bill. That effort did not bear fruit. There will be no special session to address Winner Take All. I will be carrying this bill, again, next legislative session.”

Lippincott clarified by email that he hasn’t heard directly from Pillen, but that he expects him to weigh in later this week.

“The time is clicking, and I don’t see a road forward for this, just based on what the governor said,” said state Senator Merv Riepe, a Republican who discussed the effort with Trump and Senator. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) last week.

Riepe told NBC News he initially had concerns himself about changing the law so close to the election but said he wouldn’t stand in the way of fellow Republicans’ making the change.

Riepe said Nebraska’s Electoral College system was initially changed in 1992 in hope of having more media exposure and money spent on presidential races in Omaha. “I’ve heard some senators say, ‘Well, let’s just wait and do it next year,’” he said. “And you’re kind of like, ‘Are you nuts?’ It will mean nothing, because then you’re talking about waiting until ’28. So it’s fundamentally get it done now or don’t worry about it so much.”

Trump slammed McDonnell on Truth Social. “It would have been better, and far less expensive, for everyone!” Trump wrote in part of his post. “Unfortunately, a Democrat turned Republican(?) State Senator named Mike McDonnell decided, for no reason whatsoever, to get in the way of a great Republican, common sense, victory. Just another ‘Grandstander!’”

Research contact: @NBCNews